University of Santo Tomas kept their championship hopes alive, stunning defending champion Far Eastern University, 2-1, to force a do-or-die rubber match in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Football Final Four, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
With the decisive clash set for this Friday, the Golden Booters are now one win away from reaching their first final since Season 80 and keeping alive the dream of securing their first championship crown since Season 69.
“Well-deserved win against FEU. We’re down in the first half 1-0, pero we came back strong with puso eh,” said Golden Booters head coach Marjo Allado.
The Golden Booters leaned on fourth-year duo Archie Belluga and Kyler Escobar to stage the comeback.
Belluga, a midfielder from the Junior Golden Booters program, scored the equalizer in the 54th minute. He eluded keeper Mon Diansuy to shift momentum in UST’s favor.
UST captain Escobar then completed the turnaround in the 78th minute with a clinical finish inside FEU’s box, securing the 2-1 victory for the Golden Booters.
“That’s a reminder sa players na it’s not so much the tactics, pero yung confidence natin dapat mangibabaw sa worries ng players eh. There were players kanina, nung na-goal, na parang depleted kami,” added Allado.
“Yung adjustment, napakaganda when it comes to attitude. Yun, nakakuha kami ng goal, next goal, and on to the next one.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
FEU had multiple chances to force extra time, but their late attempts missed the target. Meanwhile, UST goalkeeper Mark Daig — along with his backline — held firm.
The win was a perfect response to FEU’s dream start in the first half, when Selwyn Mamon opened the scoring in the 28th minute.
Mamon’s goal, however, proved only a brief lead for the Tamaraws.
His 10th goal of Season 88 also put him ahead of Ateneo de Manila University’s Kofi Agyei in the Golden Boot race. Mamon missed a first-half brace in the 42nd minute when his shot hit the crossbar.
The match saw a brief pause in the second half following a clash between Belluga and FEU’s McJay Neniel, prompting the referees to restore order and issue yellow cards.
Daig and UST midfielder Stephen Flores were cautioned, while FEU’s Ace Amita and Karl Absalon also received bookings.
The victory was particularly sweet for UST, marking their first win over FEU this season after a 1-1 draw and a 4-0 defeat on October 5 and January 29, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Hindi kami pwede maging overconfident dito,” said Allado. “FEU is a very strong team. They’re very technical; fitness-wise, mataas. Yung amin lang dito is having a good recovery, stay humble, and of course, we’ll be grateful walang na-injure sa amin kasi minus two players na kami. Preparation dito is recovery and the mental (side).
“Wag kaming masyado masaya dito. Masaya kami, but not so much. May second pa eh. This is a knockout game, so matira matibay talaga,” he continued.
